Parents and children walk to Holy Cross without protest

Primary and secondary level pupils have returned to all the schools affected by two days of sectarian violence in north Belfast.

Serious rioting on Wednesday and Thursday in north Belfast had forced staff at Holy Cross primary school to close on Thursday and forced the early closure of a primary school in Ligoniel. Pupils at the Boys' and Girls’ Model secondary schools had to be taken home in armoured police vehicles amid concerns for their safety.

However, on Friday January 11 Catholic parents and children made their way peacefully to Holy Cross Girls primary through the Protestant Glenbryn area amid tight security.

But there was no resumption of the protest by loyalist residents.

However, on Thursday night, hundreds of nationalist and loyalist youths confronted security forces and attacked tight police lines with petrol bombs, fireworks, bottles and blast bombs.

The riots left 31 police officers and three soldiers injured. One soldier and once police officer were seriously hurt and detained in hospital.

SDLP Assembly member for north Belfast Alban Maginness welcomed the peaceful return of children to Holy Cross but added that the rioting, which had taken place over the last number of days, was “destroying the heart and soul of the Ardoyne area.”

Mr Maginness said it was essential a cross community forum was established as a matter of urgency to create structured dialogue for people in the Ardoyne area. (AMcE)